Essential Persian Phrases


Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases. All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get what you need, or where you need to go.

Here are the bare minimum of Persian words and phrases you need to know to survive.

Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum. If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases, Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.

If you need help with pronunciation, please see the Pronunciation Guide below. Here are ten easy phrases to get you started ... The Top 10 ... Salām. Hello. Khodā hāfez. Goodbye. Shomā ingilisi baladid? Do you speak English? Nemifahmam. I don't understand. Yek kam. A little. Bale. Na. Yes. No. Chand ast? How much is it? Kheyli gerān. Bāshe. Too expensive. OK. Lotfan. Please. (Kheyli) motashakkeram. Kheyli mamnun. Thank you (very much).

Here are ten more phrases that will help you make new friends and ask for directions ... The Top 20 ...
	Esmetun chi ye? What is your name? Esmam ... e. My name is ... Hāletun chetor e? How are you? Khubam. Shomā chetorin? Fine. And you? ... kojā 'st? Where is ...? Dastshuyi kojā 'st? Mardan/Zanan Where is the toilet? Men/Women Ma'zerat mikhām. Bebakhshid. Sorry. Excuse me. Moshkeli nist. No problem. Mikhām ... I want ... Nemikhām ... I don't want ...

Here are another ten phrases to help you make a little more conversation and to get around ... The Top 30 ...

Shomā kojāyi hastin? Where are you from? Man ahl e Ostārāliyā am.* I am from Australia. Surat hesāb, lotfan. The bill, please. Man gom shodam. I am lost. Negah dārid! Sabr konid! Stop! Wait! Injā, ānjā. Here, there. Tāksi. Hotel. Furudgāh. Istgāh e ghatār. Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Station. Man az ... khosh am miyād. I like ... Man az ... khosh am nemiyād. I don't like ... yek, do, se, chāhār, panj. one, two, three, four, five. shish, haft, hasht, noh, dah. six, seven, eight, nine, ten. *Or choose your country: Āmrikā - America Kānādā - Canada Ingilis - England Irland - Ireland Zelānd e No - New Zealand

Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful, especially if you have dietary needs or allergies ... Useful Extras ...

Be salāmati! Cheers! khub / bad good / bad bozorg / kuchik big / small nazdik / dur near / far kamtar / bishtar less / more yek digar / kāfi another / enough Man giyāh khār am. I am vegetarian. Man gusht nemikhoram. I don't eat meat. ... morgh. ... chicken. ... māhi. ... fish. Man be bādām hassāsiyat dāram. I am allergic to nuts. ... bādām zamini ... ... peanuts. ... māhi ... ... fish. ... ghazāhaye darya'e ... ... seafood. ... tokhm e morgh ... ... eggs.